Northfield, who owns the Harrogate-based change management consultancy 2inspire, was chairman at Railway in 2007 and was in charge for the club's historic FA Cup run to the second round in the same year.

However, his exit at Railway in November 2008 left a mixture of feelings among the club's supporters.

Northfield was last in charge of a club at Tadcaster Albion where his financial backing helped the club win NCEL Division One.